Thanksgiving Comes to 80219 »

Posted on December 04, 2017

For 80219, it was a Thanksgiving unlike any other. Imagine people from every walk of life and faith tradition sitting together and sharing a meal. Members of LifeSource Adventist Fellowship together with Porter Hospital and Denver Inner City Parish served a Thanksgiving meal to more than 500 vulnerable community members at the College View Community Center in southwest Denver on November 20.

Volunteers filled heaping plates of steaming food for hundreds of people. Also invited were local law enforcement who joined the tables "It was great to see so many people from so many walks of life and faith traditions sitting together and sharing the meal. We all were grateful for what God has done in our lives," said Dany Hernandez, pastor of LifeSource Fellowship. Planning for this community event began several months back when Jim Feldbush, director of mission and ministry at Porter Adventist Hospital, along with LifeSource pastor Dany Hernandez, met with the leadership of College View Community Center and Denver Inner City Parish. College View Community Center reaches out to the 80219 zip code area of Denver, an area known for its high suicide, crime and drug activity rates. It provides a safe and positive place for vulnerable community members of all ages, serving the community through recreational activities and community events, along with several other programs.

Pastor Hernandez hopes to involve more LifeSource members with the programs at College View Community Center. "Such is our mission. We must recognize ourselves as part of a community and help those who are in need."

One such program, Life-Line, helps gang members of all ages to disengage. Another, Evolving Fathers, provides one-on-one guidance and monthly group sessions to build fatherhood skills by working through past difficulties and intimidating social systems. Still another, Life, assists youth needing educational, employment and emotional support, guidance and skill building.

According to Pastor Hernandez, as people left at the end of the meal, they were given large bags to fill with groceries provided by LifeSource Fellowship and Porter Hospital.